Moog Synthesizes Production

A large American designer and manufacturer of motion control products has added a European motor manufacturer to its team. Moog Inc., based in East Aurora, N.Y., announced Friday, February 16 that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Vues Brno s.r.o., which designs and manufactures customized electric motors, generators and solutions. The purchase price is $65 million U.S. (€53 million) in cash.

Moog, Inc., meanwhile, is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Here we have an important distinction to be made from the music equipment company of synthesizer pioneer Robert Moog, founded in 1953, Moog Music, which, interestingly enough has close historical ties to the development of the capacitor within music (watch below):

While Bob Moog’s electronic “toolmaking” was highly influential in discovering new auditory frontiers, Moog Inc.’s systems have controlled military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, wind energy, marine and medical equipment since roughly the same era. Although these grab the headlines, the aforementioned industrial systems segment was responsible for 34% of sales in 2017.

“We are pleased to welcome Vues to Moog’s expanding line of high performance motion products,” said Pat Roche, president of Moog’s industrial systems segment. “This business aligns with our core business model of delivering a competitive advantage to our customers by providing custom motion control solutions. The Vues product offering, engineering expertise and manufacturing capability will strengthen our market position.”

Vues has additional facilities in Jarni and Slavkov u Brna, two other Czechian locations. The company had sales of approximately $37 million U.S. (€30 million) in 2017. The business was founded in 1947 and has a successful history of providing specialized machinery components to a diverse customer base in Europe.

The transaction is subject to applicable regulatory approvals in Germany and customary closing conditions and is expected to happen within 30 to 60 days.